The Social Democratic Party’s (SDP) leadership crisis intensified on Wednesday, when the wing loyal to the reinstated National Chairman, Shehu Gabam, announced the expulsion of 13 major party heavyweights, including Adewole Adebayo, the party’s only presidential candidate.
The extraordinary occurrence occurred during the party’s national convention and presidential primaries in Abuja, where Gabam supporters also chose Lagos businessman Abimbola Atanda as the party’s new only presidential candidate via voice vote.
Those expelled alongside Adebayo include factional National Chairman Sadiq Gombe, National Secretary Olu Agunloye, National Publicity Secretary Rufus Aiyenigba, Joseph Abu, Maggie Batubo, Sa’adatu Abdullahi, Abimbola Aderemi, Oguchukwu Uba, Huseesini Bello, Alabi Lekan, Rosemary Effiong, and Abubakar Modibo.
The convention also moved quickly to abolish the National Working Committee before choosing a new set of national officers by voice vote.
The newly inaugurated National Working Committee members include Gabam as National Chairman, Adebola Abbas as National Secretary, Ibrahim Biu as Deputy National Secretary, Dr. Uchechukwu Chukwuma as National Organizing Secretary, Muka’ila Mavo as National Legal Adviser, Zakari Nadabu as National Publicity Secretary, Hauwa Ahmed as National Woman Leader, Steven Otu as National Youth Leader, and Abubakar Isiaka as National Financial Secretary.
The party leadership announced the decision, stating that the affected members had been sanctioned for allegedly compromising the party’s constitution and internal coherence.
“These disciplinary measures were taken following findings that the affected individuals acted in ways inconsistent with the ideals, principles, and constitutional provisions of the party, thereby undermining party cohesion and discipline.
“I therefore urge this distinguished house/body to approve and ratify the suspension and expulsion accordingly,” the NEC announced.
Addressing journalists shortly after the oath-taking ceremony, Gabam stated that the party’s dilemma had been resolved.
He said, “We have come through a lot of challenges as a party. These challenges are all man-made. But we followed a good process. We were calm and steady, and God, in His infinite mercy, has done the needful. We have bounced back and are fully operational.
“We have ensured that all the relevant organs that supervise our system and operation, including INEC, the judiciary, and other institutions, were aware of some of the irregularities that took place.
“Being politicians trained in the heart of leadership, we maintain decorum to protect the sanctity of this platform that we have invested our lives to build.
“We built momentum to the point of fundamental trust, reliability, and a better objective in our assessment of every situation in the country. Therefore, it wasn’t a surprise that we had to go through turbulence as a party. But many people don’t know that turbulence strengthens political parties.
“Any party without a crisis is a briefcase political platform. It is a crisis that strengthens a party to understand some of the gaps and how to strengthen them. You can see that we are stronger today and more viable.”
However, the Gombe-led faction denounced Wednesday’s convention and expulsions as unlawful and lacking constitutional support.
In a phone call with our correspondent, faction spokesman Aiyenigba labeled the gathering as a “nullity,” saying that Gabam no longer served as chairman following his expulsion from the party.
According to him, INEC only recognized Gabam because of an existing court ruling.
He said, “In response to the call for an ADR meeting by INEC, the 11 members of the NWC of the party were received in a meeting held by INEC Chairman last Monday with a full complement of his national commissioners.
“The commission was comprehensively briefed by the NWC on the true situation of the SDP leadership. What Gabam and his co-jesters gathered in Abuja today had no basis of legality. It will not stand.
“The SDP is not a private estate of Shehu Gabam; it belongs to the Nigerian people.
“The members of the SDP family nationwide and the Nigerian public are well aware of the unrelenting shenanigans and ignoble conduct of these characters who pride themselves as ‘career politicians.”
The new purge comes almost seven months after the Gombe-led leadership announced the expulsion of Gabam and several of his allies from the party, escalating an internal war for control of the SDP organization ahead of the 2027 general election.
The problem took another turn in April when the INEC publicly accepted Gabam’s leadership, effectively putting an end to months of speculation about the party’s true national leadership.
INEC then changed its official website with the strong text “By Court Order,” before identifying members of the party’s executive committee, with the exception of the national secretary.
Gabam was named National Chairman in the revised structure, while Agunloye was retained as National Secretary. Other officials listed on the commission’s website included National Treasurer Hajia Maggie Mariam and National Legal Adviser Aderemi Abimbola.
